Valley goalkeeper David Watts unable to keep out an Easts shot.

Easts' Dale Gohdes sizes up Valley's Tobias Figura.

Easts' four-goal hero Tim Bates gets a pass away ahead of Valley's Braden O'Callaghan.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 17


Redcliffe Leagues 4 (Andrew Newman 2, Ian Schulz, James McAlpine) defeated United 1 (Adam McClelland) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Redcliffe Leagues claimed their fifth minor premiership since 1974, and their first since 1998, with victory over United.  The win also marked the club’s fourth President’s Trophy triumph, and their first since 2003.  The baysiders took control of the match early, with striker Andrew Newman notching a double inside 15 minutes.  Despite Redcliffe Leagues’ fast start, United had their chances to close the gap before halftime, but errant shooting proved costly.  An early second half goal to Redcliffe Leagues midfielder Ian Schulz extinguished any hopes of a United revival.  The joint venture’s day was summed up when the competition’s leading goal scorer Adam McClelland had a penalty stroke saved by Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Charlie Bason.  A James McAlpine drag flick then stretched the peninsula side’s margin to four goals, and with a quarter of the match remaining the score threatened to blow out.  However, it was United who added the last score, courtesy of a McClelland drag flick.  The day ended up bringing extra cause for celebration to Mary Nairn Fields.  With the Redmen’s reserve grade side also winning, Redcliffe Leagues has claimed minor premierships in the top two grades in the same year for the first time – Nicholas Bolton.


Commercial 3 (Chris Beale, Cale Cramer, Ian Baker) defeated Labrador 2 (Mark Harris 2) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

For the second time in three years Labrador’s finals dreams will be determined via a winner-take-all clash with Bulimba at the Gold Coast in the last fixture of the season, after the Tigerstix were edged by Commercial.  Labrador led the reigning champions early after their top goal scorer Mark Harris found the back of the net ten minutes in, finishing off good lead-up work by Andrew Ward.  Commercial equalised with a drag flick from Chris Beale from a penalty corner, before the match reached new heights.  Harris scored one of the goals of the season, beating three Commercial defenders and goalkeeper David Reid with a blistering run along the backline to give his side a 2-1 lead.  A goal to Cobra Cale Cramer saw the scores tied 2-2 at halftime, before Labrador had appeals for a penalty stroke denied after Ward was brought down in the circle.  The Cobras landed the telling blow of the dog fight with nine minutes left, when Ian Baker scored from a backline run.  Labrador will now need history to repeat itself if they are to contest the semi finals for the third straight year.  In the final match of the 2007 season, their first year in the Brisbane competition, Labrador beat Bulimba 3-1 to leap-frog Valley into fifth spot on the ladder – Lee Oliver.


Bulimba 5 (Kyle Richardson 2, Duncan Mahony, Jaryd Cutler, Mitchell Grant) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Bulimba may have cruised to victory against wooden spooners QUT but they’ll be fighting to stay in the top five in their last round game at Labrador.  Good structural play by the students early on made it hard for a flat Bulimba side to put points on the board.  But it wasn’t long before the Ibis defence had a lapse in judgement which saw Bulimba’s Duncan Mahony give his team their only goal of the first half.  Despite holding a narrow lead after the break the Bulls did not look discouraged at all but rather cruised on through until a Kyle Richardson slap shot found its target in the 48th minute.  Soon after the talented midfielder pocketed his second goal of the match by putting the finishing touches on a speedy breakaway.  Two further goals in the final two minutes of the game saw Bulimba blow out the score.  First a Dean Butler pass set up Jaryd Cutler for an easy deflection to give the Bulls their only penalty corner conversion of the match, before youngster Mitchell Grant scored a great team goal seconds before full-time to stretch the margin to five.  Due to other results though Bulimba’s finals hopes depend entirely on their must-win clash against Labrador, who have won three of their past four matches against the Bulls – Rebecca Kirchner.


Easts 14 (Tim Bates 4, Jarrod Black 4, Treva Mills 2, Jacon Webber 2, Dale Gohdes, Ben McCarthy) defeated Valley 1 (Tobias Figura) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

A 13-goal mauling of Valley has the Easts Tigers poised to unexpectedly snare a semi finals berth, while consigning Brisbane’s oldest and most successful club to one of the darkest days in their 88-year history. The Tigers, who have only sat inside the top five once in the back half of the season, could now finish as high as fourth after an effort that should have their rivals nervous.  Despite their Australian Under-21 forwards Jacob Whetton and Michael Bates watching on from the sideline, Easts scored almost at will in a severely lopsided contest which saw the Tigers lead 4-0 after 15 minutes and 8-0 at halftime.  Easts strikers Tim Bates and Jarrod Black destroyed the Valley defence and terrorised Diehards goalkeeper David Watts, scoring four goals each.  After Black, Bates and Ben McCarthy scored in the opening seven minutes Valley looked likely to score but Tobias Figura’s tomahawk shot was well saved by Easts goalkeeper Casey Lee.  With the score at 12-0 it was a case of fourth time lucky for Figura, who along with teammates Braden O’Callaghan and Andrew McGuckin offered the most resistance against the Easts onslaught, when he finally beat Lee to score in the 57th minute.  Easts can qualify for the finals with victory against United in their final fixture of the season – Lee Oliver.


Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3 (Craig Smith, Ryan Gibbs, Ryan Kilpatrick) defeated University of Queensland 2 (Timbi Poon, Hamish Baron) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths are just one win away from qualifying for their first finals series since 2000, following a come-from-behind 3-2 defeat of a determined University side.  Saints raced out of the blocks to lead 1-0 inside five minutes, after midfielder Craig Smith flicked over advancing University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale to score.  However, the students had come to play, and a terrific solo effort from striker Hamish Baron,levelled the scores.  An opportunistic deflection to fellow University forward Timbi Poon then gave the Redmen the advantage.  Despite trailing, Saints needn’t of panicked, having dominated possession, only to be let down by poor finishing.  Fresh from his memorable performance against Bulimba, Dinsdale continued to frustrate the Saints’ attack.  Saints’ persistence was finally rewarded when midfielder Ryan Gibbs found the box amid a crowded circle.  The goal gave Saints momentum, and minutes later striker Ryan Kilpatrick completed a textbook right-side movement, which saw Saints hit the front.  There was to be no repeat of their excessive goal celebrations that led to their downfall against Easts the previous week, as a focused Saints outfit closed out the match – Nicholas Bolton.


POINTS:

Redcliffe Leagues 46, Commercial 41, Labrador 29, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 28, Bulimba 28, Easts 26, Valley 17, University of Queensland 16, United 14, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

27  -  Adam McClelland (United)
22  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
21  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
20  -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
18  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
15  -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
13  -  Andrew Newman (Redcliffe Leagues)
12  -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
11  -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Craig Smith (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
10  -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial)
      -  Jacob Webber (Easts)
      -  Jacob Whetton (Easts)

Easts forward Jacob Webber moves in to stop Valley's Alecz Day.

Easts' Irish import David Robinson confronted by Valley goalkeeper David Watts.

Valley's Pat Gleadhill gets around Treva Mills during a match-up in the midfield.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.